ABOUT THE COLLABORATIVE

The National Philanthropic Collaborative of Young Women’s Initiatives (The Collaborative) is a dynamic effort led by the nation’s leading women’s foundations to galvanize and invest resources that amplify the collective power of young women—particularly young women of color and gender-diverse young people—so they can thrive in a world rooted in gender and racial equity. Across the country, too many are fighting uphill battles they did not create. The Collaborative exists to ensure they are safe, healthy, and economically prosperous.

Our collective mission is to shift the narrative about young women of color and to address the core structural issues that have kept young women from reaching their fullest potential.

Learn more about our work and impact.

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Why a National Collaborative?

The Collaborative provides each Women’s Foundation with a unique opportunity to:

Give a national focus to issues that are important to young women and girls of color nationwide.

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Network with other women’s foundations to explore and duplicate local initiatives nationwide.

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Learn the best practices of other women’s foundations around the country to advance young women in their local communities.

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Share their unique work and inspire other collaborative members.

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Convene to strategize ways to advance young women’s initiatives nationwide and improve outcomes for more girls and young women of color.

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Our History

Featured
2014
2014

The New York City Young Women’s Initiative (NYC YWI) was launched as a groundbreaking partnership between The New York Women’s Foundation, Girls for Gender Equity (GGE), and the New York City Council to create a place-based, cross-sector initiative that centers young women of color and amplifies their leadership to move the needle on racial and gender equity in the City.

2018
2018

Working with the White House Council on Women and Girls, The Foundation and seven other women’s foundations launched in 2018 The National Philanthropic Collaborative of Young Women’s Initiatives (The Collaborative)— bringing together philanthropic community, and government partners with young women and girls of color from across localities to mobilize the national growth and expansion of YWI.

2023
2023

The Collaborative has grown to include the following women-led foundations including:

  1. The Women’s Foundation of Alabama

  2. The Boston Women’s Fund

  3. The Women’s Foundation of California

  4. Women’s Fund of Greater Chattanooga

  5. Women’s Fund of Western Massachusetts

  6. The Women’s Foundation for a Greater Memphis

  7. The Women’s Foundation of Minnesota

  8. Women’s Foundation of Mississippi

  9. The New York Women’s Foundation

  10. Texas Women’s Foundation

  11. The Washington Area’s Women’s Foundation (including the District of Columbia, Maryland, and Virginia).

… and beyond.
… and beyond.

We are growing and continuing to expand our impact across the country.

Learn more about our collaborative members and how to join.

Collaborative Members